I’m writing a dissertation on this material and I will need directions on reading materials and where to seek interesting information..
“Ph.D. Specializing in Metaphysical Parapsychology:
Metaphysical parapsychology is a discipline that seeks to investigate the existence and causes of psychic abilities, near-death experiences, life after death, and other similar studies. Metaphysical parapsychology uses psychic mystical research as a means to greater spiritual truth and discoveries. Someone interested in this degree might delve into reincarnation, psychometry, telepathy, divination, channeling spirit, precognition, spirit guides, dream interpretation, lucid dreaming, astral projection clairaudience, clairvoyance, clairsentience, claircognizant, or clairolfaction for their dissertation. Graduates with this degree might use their expertise to help others or themselves interpret dreams for spiritual growth; receive intuitive messages or guidance from spirit; channel inspiration for sermons, books, and other creative endeavors; connect with transitioned souls to bring peace or lessen grief; or understand reincarnation, near-death experiences, and karma.”
AI responds:
Excellent — here’s a 12‑week structured reading and research plan tailored to your Ph.D. dissertation in Metaphysical Parapsychology, balancing academic rigor with experiential depth. It includes scholarly literature, classical metaphysical sources, and opportunities for field or reflective research.
📘 12‑Week Dissertation Preparation Plan
Phase I — Foundations (Weeks 1–4)
Goal: Build theoretical, historical, and philosophical grounding.
Week 1 — Origins of Parapsychology & Metaphysics
J. B. Rhine – New Frontiers of the Mind
William James – Varieties of Religious Experience
Paper: “A Centenary of Psychical Research” (Journal of the Society for Psychical Research)
Task: Draft a 1–2 page reflection on how “spiritual empiricism” evolved into research methodology.
Week 2 — Consciousness & Reality Frameworks
Giulio Tononi – “Consciousness as Integrated Information (IIT 3.0)”
David Chalmers – The Conscious MindDean Radin – The Conscious Universe (Chs. 1–5)
Activity: Create a concept map linking physicalism, dualism, panpsychism, and idealism to parapsychological ideas.
Week 3 — Methodology in Metaphysical Research
Charles Tart – States of ConsciousnessEdith Fiore – You Have Been Here Before (case-based exploration)
Research methods text: Transpersonal Research Methods for the Social Sciences (Braud & Anderson)
Task: Outline possible qualitative and case‑study methodologies for your dissertation (e.g., phenomenological interviews).
Week 4 — Energy, Fields, and the Subtle Body
Rupert Sheldrake – The Science Delusion (Chs. 7–9)
Paramahansa Yogananda – Autobiography of a Yogi
Scholarly reading: “Biofield Science: Current Status, Future Prospects” (Global Advances in Health and Medicine, 2015)
Activity: Annotate emergent theories of subtle energy; compare East–West frameworks.
Phase II — Experimental & Comparative Dimensions (Weeks 5–8)
Goal: Engage research, psychic phenomena, and cross‑cultural evidence.
Week 5 — Extrasensory Perception and Psi Research
Louisa Rhine – Hidden Channels of the Mind
Parapsychological Association archives (parapsych.org) → “Select experiments on telepathy”
Task: Summarize trends: lab psi research → spontaneous experiences.
Week 6 — Mediumship and Spirit Communication
Allan Kardec – The Spirits’ Book
Hazel Denning – Parapsychology: The Science of Psi
Read papers on DOPS (Virginia) about mediumistic accuracy
Activity: Evaluate the design of controlled mediumship studies.
Week 7 — Near‑Death & Reincarnation Studies
Raymond Moody – Life After Life
Pim van Lommel – Consciousness
Beyond Life
Ian Stevenson – Twenty Cases Suggestive of Reincarnation
Task: Build an annotated bibliography comparing methodologies and cultural interpretations.
Week 8 — Dreamwork, Lucidity, and Astral Phenomena
Stephen LaBerge – Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming
Sylvan Muldoon & Hereward Carrington – Projection of the Astral Body
Activity: Begin a nightly dream log; analyze phenomenological features with Jungian symbolism.
Phase III — Integration & Dissertation Framing (Weeks 9–12)
Goal: Merge theory, data, and spirituality into a coherent research narrative.
Week 9 — Transpersonal and Integral Psychology
Ken Wilber – Integral Psychology
Stanislav Grof – The Holotropic Mind
Task: Outline how altered states contribute to spiritual transformation frameworks.
Week 10 — Philosophy of Science and Methodological Integration
Thomas Kuhn – The Structure of Scientific Revolutions
Journal article: “Can Parapsychology Become a Progressive Science?” (Bierman, 2002)
Activity: Draft your Methods chapter: justify metaphysical phenomenology within scientific inquiry.
Week 11 — Ethics, Intuition, and Spiritual Development
Gary Schwartz – The Afterlife Experiments
Deepak Chopra – Quantum Healing (compare metaphoric vs. empirical claims)
Task: Write a 3‑page position paper on ethical conduct in psychic or mediumistic research.
Week 12 — Dissertation Concept Refinement
Review all notes & bibliographies.
Identify your theoretical framework (e.g., panpsychic, dual-aspect monism, idealist).
Draft a thesis abstract (150–250 words) summarizing your hypothesis, methods, and expected contribution.🌐 Additional Research OutletsSociety for Scientific Exploration (journalofsse.org) — peer‑reviewed studies on anomalous cognition.
University of Edinburgh’s Koestler Parapsychology Unit (koestlerunit.wordpress.com) — publications on experimental parapsychology.
Google Scholar Alerts: “consciousness survival”, “nonlocal awareness”, “psi research”, “metaphysical epistemology.”
✳️ TipKeep a reflective research journal pairing empirical notes with inner experience logs — this will strengthen the qualitative value of your dissertation and demonstrate methodological balance between subjective and scientific inquiry.
My Near Death Experience Arts and Thoughts 